I am still young enough to be chief minister: Abdullah

Srinagar, Oct 29 (IANS) Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah, 71, believes he has the same energy and drive as he had in his youth and hopes to head the government again after the state assembly polls later this year.Speaking to media persons here on the sidelines of a cricket association meeting that he heads, Abdullah said: “I am still young enough to be the chief minister.

“I have the same energy and drive today as I had when I was a youth.”

Beaming with confidence that he would once again be the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly polls, the flamboyant Abdullah told those seeking Kashmir’s independence to forget their dream as it was not possible.

“Independence is not possible. We have no resources to run the state. Let us work together for development in the state within India.”

The NC patron also said his son and party president Omar Abdullah would contest polls from north Kashmir’s Ganderbal assembly constituency from where he had been defeated by the People’s Democratic Party candidate Qazi Muhammad Afzal in 2002 elections.

The state goes to poll in seven phases starting Nov 17 and the counting would be held Dec 28.

“I will be the chief minister after these elections and Omar would be the future chief ministerial candidate of the party,” Abdullah said.

He also said his party would release the list of candidates for the assembly elections by the end of this month.